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A DCBLOG Sports Special
BY DC CUEVA
Amidst my focus on the MTV Trifecta on here and the Summer of Sports blog series I plan to do here also, I wanted to take a moment to do a special edition of DC FORUM to offer my thoughts on a story in the sports and media worlds that has become so big in the past week that it became too big for DCBLOG to ignore. So here we go...
The past week has been a most eventful one for those who follow the fight game: the passing Friday night of the man known as call "The Greatest," Muhammad Ali, the unexpected death of MMA star Kimbo Slice late Monday, and UFC 199 on Saturday night. There at the Forum in Los Angeles, Michael Bisping became the first Englishman to win a UFC championship when he knocked out champion Luke Rockhold for the middleweight title and culminating a long journey to the top of his sport; Dominick Cruz defended his bantamweight strap, and Dan Henderson make what's likely his swan song in the cage after a nearly 20-year career with a great KO win.
Saturday also came news of two major bouts coming to the sport that has seen immense growth in the past several years: mega-star Conor McGregor returning to the Octagon in mid-August at UFC 202 for a rematch with Nate Diaz after he gave the Irishman his first loss in KO fashion; and WWE superstar Brock Lesner returning for what's billed as MMA's own Super Bowl: UFC 200 taking place next month in Las Vegas. That fight card also features Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for the undisputed light heavyweight crown; Miesha Tate defending against Amanda Nunes the women's bantamweight title once held by Ronda Rousey; Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar for a shot vs. McGregor in the fall; and bouts featuring TJ Dillashaw, Johny Hendricks and others.
Typically, the announcements of these bouts are a tightly-kept secret until they're revealed to the world, but on Saturday the UFC were beaten to the punch by the person who's considered the top journalist in mixed martial arts. Ariel Helwani is to MMA what Adam Schefter and Jay Galzer are to the NFL, Adrian Wojnarowski is to the NBA, Ken Rosenthal in baseball and Bob McKenzie in hockey: the top insiders in the sports they cover and the person fans go to for big news and scoops on their favorite sport. Those stories were broken by Helwani, who works for MMAFighting.com, in the Forum's press room while the undercard bouts took place, just hours before the Lesner and McGregor/Diaz fights were announced on the pay-per-view telecast.
There were no embargoes issued to the press on those fights, so after confirming with his network of sources, Helwani went ahead with reporting the news on his Twitter @ArielHelwani anyway - just as he would do of other stories involving the sport, and almost immediately the news got to the UFC's top brass - including head Dana White and owners Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta (for whom we wrote about of them supporting TJ Lavin in our post on his accident). And in a snap judgement, and also with a checkered history between him and the insider that had developed over the years, White sent people to escort Helwani and two members of his MMA Fighting site from UFC 199 before Bisping's win and blacklisted him from the promotion, all for leaking news of those two fights. Here was Helwani's tweets...
After Helwani tweeted of him being ejected from The Forum, news of this story spread like wildfire to even non-MMA sports sites, and a tsunami of negative press and commentary came from hardcore fans and casual sports followers about this act of journalism being tossed aside in favor of PR and protecting the company's image. Led by journalists who do and don't cover the sport, an tremendous show of support was sent to the native Canadian and Syracuse alum for doing his job of bringing information to these passionate fans at the instant he gets the news instead of waiting around for it to be made official, and by then getting scooped himself. It was this manner of being a journalist that even got him taken off the broadcast team for the UFC's broadcast partner, FOX Sports, by the UFC's order when all commentators are employed by the promotion rather than by the network itself. And there is no association of MMA journalists as is the case in other sports.
Again, here are more of Helwani's tweets...
On Monday, Helwani went onto his webcast, The MMA Hour on SB Nation, not to talk to guests and callers to review the fight as he would normally do, but to come clean on what happened on Saturday night and the events leading up to it. There, as Sports Illustrated media writer Richard Deitsch tweeted, he was "Raw, painful" and "honest" as you can ever possibly get on a sports podcast as he devoted all two hours of his show to discussing his ordeal. At the end of that podcast after he had told the entire story, just as he did on Twitter he thanked everyone for their overwhelming support, and this became too much for him to handle as shedded just about as many tears that a man my age can have after telling such a powerful story that has united journalists.
That night, just after Ariel's webcast and an unexpected press tour of him going to outlet after outlet to express his views to every national sports media outlet there is, and before news of Kimbo Slice's untimely death became public, the firestorm that erupted in LA two days earlier became too much for Zuffa to ignore. Here was its statement...
Last week, I again reiterated the position I have of remaining neutral whenever anything of a controversial nature happens between members of the MTV Trifecta family, and didn't join everyone in condemning Brandon for quitting Rivals III. But in this case, I will join everyone in the sports media business and lend my full support to Ariel as he has just gone through the toughest 48+ hours he has ever endured as a journalist covering a sport that has become part of the mainstream in the past several years. I appreciate his great work in covering this sport with the kind of inside coverage he does best - which along with those in other sports and in sports media inspire me to bring that dedication, diligence and the like to covering the MTV world and sports on DCBLOG.
I also agree with those who support him that it was bad judgement, and a decision that was too rushed, on the part of Zuffa to eject Ariel from the Forum and after taking all of this time to realize that this decision was handled very poorly to finally fess up that that they made a mistake and to lift the sanctions it had levied against Ariel. If this controversy would've lingered for the entire lead-up to the biggest event it has ever had in its history, then it would've cast a dark shadow on mixed martial arts, and there would've been a greater amount of fan backlash on the UFC as about the same rate as what happened with the sports public at large for what happened thirteen months ago in boxing. It would've been a total PR nightmare for the sport, but in the end, as Ariel tweeted, cooler heads did prevail and made the right call that this situation was all screwed up in the first place.
As I wrote in the Summer of Sports post on the sport last year, the UFC is the sport of now having come off of its biggest year ever in seeing Rousey and McGregor become mega stars and seeing the sport catapult its way into the American mainstream like never before, which would not have been possible given the long road it has endured to get to public acceptance which we documented in that post. The sport should know now that it doesn't live in the past as far as press and publicity is concerned, and should work side by side with traditional and new media to help cover this sport journalistically and bring MMA to the masses on the websites and traditional forms of sports media. The lesson they had to endure this past weekend was proof that a change is needed, and they've done it swiftly and hope this is the last time they get to endure the mess they had to go through.
- I AM DC
There were no embargoes issued to the press on those fights, so after confirming with his network of sources, Helwani went ahead with reporting the news on his Twitter @ArielHelwani anyway - just as he would do of other stories involving the sport, and almost immediately the news got to the UFC's top brass - including head Dana White and owners Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta (for whom we wrote about of them supporting TJ Lavin in our post on his accident). And in a snap judgement, and also with a checkered history between him and the insider that had developed over the years, White sent people to escort Helwani and two members of his MMA Fighting site from UFC 199 before Bisping's win and blacklisted him from the promotion, all for leaking news of those two fights. Here was Helwani's tweets...
"I was escorted out of the building by Zuffa staff before the main event. Credential taken away, too. Didn't see Bisping realize his dream. My long-time colleagues @ekc and @allelbows were also escorted out of the building w/ me. Sorry to report no post-fight coverage tonight. I love this sport & this job with all my heart. Did nothing unethical. I reported fight news. That's it. & then told we're banned for life. My teammates and friends @Ekc and @allelbows are the very best at what they do. I wish they didn't have to leave with me. They did nothing. Here's hoping cooler heads prevail. I sincerely love every fighter & fan of this sport. You have helped me realize a dream. Thank you." -@ArielHelwani
After Helwani tweeted of him being ejected from The Forum, news of this story spread like wildfire to even non-MMA sports sites, and a tsunami of negative press and commentary came from hardcore fans and casual sports followers about this act of journalism being tossed aside in favor of PR and protecting the company's image. Led by journalists who do and don't cover the sport, an tremendous show of support was sent to the native Canadian and Syracuse alum for doing his job of bringing information to these passionate fans at the instant he gets the news instead of waiting around for it to be made official, and by then getting scooped himself. It was this manner of being a journalist that even got him taken off the broadcast team for the UFC's broadcast partner, FOX Sports, by the UFC's order when all commentators are employed by the promotion rather than by the network itself. And there is no association of MMA journalists as is the case in other sports.
Again, here are more of Helwani's tweets...
"Thank you. I sincerely can't thank you all enough. I'm still here. It's hard to wrap my head around all of this, but to everyone fan, fighter, manager, friend who reached out: thank you. And to every journalist/media member who tweeted or reached out: I'm eternally grateful to you. Thank you all very much. FTR, I will forever be proud to be an MMA journalist. I am proud of that title and take the responsibility that comes w/ it seriously." - @ArielHelwani, on Sunday
"Again, thank you. That wasn't very fun, but I promised long ago to always tell it like it is, and I'm happy I was finally able to do so. I am humbled by everyone's support. It's surreal, really. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll never forget what you've done for me. This isn't the end. I still hope cooler heads will prevail." - @ArielHelwani, on Monday
On Monday, Helwani went onto his webcast, The MMA Hour on SB Nation, not to talk to guests and callers to review the fight as he would normally do, but to come clean on what happened on Saturday night and the events leading up to it. There, as Sports Illustrated media writer Richard Deitsch tweeted, he was "Raw, painful" and "honest" as you can ever possibly get on a sports podcast as he devoted all two hours of his show to discussing his ordeal. At the end of that podcast after he had told the entire story, just as he did on Twitter he thanked everyone for their overwhelming support, and this became too much for him to handle as shedded just about as many tears that a man my age can have after telling such a powerful story that has united journalists.
That night, just after Ariel's webcast and an unexpected press tour of him going to outlet after outlet to express his views to every national sports media outlet there is, and before news of Kimbo Slice's untimely death became public, the firestorm that erupted in LA two days earlier became too much for Zuffa to ignore. Here was its statement...
"Following a conversation with the editorial team at SB Nation, UFC will not prevent MMAFighting.com from receiving media credentials to cover live UFC events. We respect the role the media plays in our sport and beyond, including MMAFighting’s ability to report news. However, in our opinion, we believe the recurring tactics used by its lead reporter extended beyond the purpose of journalism. We feel confident our position has now been adequately communicated to the SB Nation editorial team. UFC’s goal as the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion is to cultivate interest in its world-class athletes and events, and deliver for the fans. We will continue to introduce this sport and its athletes to new fans across the world, and we will do so by working alongside media across all platforms." - Statement from UFCAnd from earlier today, here was Ariel's tweets upon news of his one-day ban being lifted...
"Happy to report the UFC has lifted the ban on me and my colleagues. Cooler heads indeed prevailed. Now back to normal. Thank you again. Again, the outpouring of support has been mind-blowing. I will never forget what so many of you did for me over the past few days. And because of that, I'll continue to report for you the same way as before: fair and accurately. That will never change. Thank you, all." -@ArielHelwani
Last week, I again reiterated the position I have of remaining neutral whenever anything of a controversial nature happens between members of the MTV Trifecta family, and didn't join everyone in condemning Brandon for quitting Rivals III. But in this case, I will join everyone in the sports media business and lend my full support to Ariel as he has just gone through the toughest 48+ hours he has ever endured as a journalist covering a sport that has become part of the mainstream in the past several years. I appreciate his great work in covering this sport with the kind of inside coverage he does best - which along with those in other sports and in sports media inspire me to bring that dedication, diligence and the like to covering the MTV world and sports on DCBLOG.
I also agree with those who support him that it was bad judgement, and a decision that was too rushed, on the part of Zuffa to eject Ariel from the Forum and after taking all of this time to realize that this decision was handled very poorly to finally fess up that that they made a mistake and to lift the sanctions it had levied against Ariel. If this controversy would've lingered for the entire lead-up to the biggest event it has ever had in its history, then it would've cast a dark shadow on mixed martial arts, and there would've been a greater amount of fan backlash on the UFC as about the same rate as what happened with the sports public at large for what happened thirteen months ago in boxing. It would've been a total PR nightmare for the sport, but in the end, as Ariel tweeted, cooler heads did prevail and made the right call that this situation was all screwed up in the first place.
As I wrote in the Summer of Sports post on the sport last year, the UFC is the sport of now having come off of its biggest year ever in seeing Rousey and McGregor become mega stars and seeing the sport catapult its way into the American mainstream like never before, which would not have been possible given the long road it has endured to get to public acceptance which we documented in that post. The sport should know now that it doesn't live in the past as far as press and publicity is concerned, and should work side by side with traditional and new media to help cover this sport journalistically and bring MMA to the masses on the websites and traditional forms of sports media. The lesson they had to endure this past weekend was proof that a change is needed, and they've done it swiftly and hope this is the last time they get to endure the mess they had to go through.
- I AM DC
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